Chabot College - Astronomy Worksheet- Scott Hildreth

HW#10: Is the Sun Causing Global Warming?

The number is certainly the cause. The apparent disorder augments the grandeur, for the appearance of care is highly contrary to our ideas of magnificence.

Besides, the stars lie in such apparent confusion, as makes it impossible on ordinary occasion to reckon them. This gives them the advantage of a sort of infinity. - Edmund Burke



25 points - Due Thursday 5/13/10 in class at 10:30 AM  (Note this is a two-week assignment)

This assignment has three short parts.  You might decide to do the survey investigation of others after doing your own research and watching the YouTube video selection.

1.  Investigation

Survey at least two friends, co-workers, or family members, and ask them

- Do they believe Global Warming is actually occurring?

- Do they believe humans are causing the planet to heat up?

- What evidence do they have to support these beliefs? (Did they watch or read, "An Inconvenient Truth" for example?)

- What do they think of science, and scientists, involved in this issue? Are there some they trust more than others?  Why?

2. Research

In a short essay of at least 250 words, summarize what you learned from your research on the issue.  What questions do you still have?  Read at least one article supporting the anthropogenic global warming position (that human activity has resulted in the increase in temperatures and CO2 levels) AND one "anti" article (that there is no firm data the planet is warming, and/or that if it is, the rise is not from humans but from other natural causes)  from one of the sources below, or use our Library's resources, or online access through Lexis-Nexis and/or EBSCO.

Humans are not causing global warming:

3. Opinion.

Watch the YouTube video

Craven, G. (2007) How It All Ends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg

Comment on the video, and its attempt to engender action regardless of scientific uncertainty.  Do you like Craven's approach?  Why or why not?

Wikipedia Background Information
 

1/13/11 - SH

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